Neal has to hold Will back

Will Nightingale will not be rushed back this season with manager Neal Ardley preferring to get him ready for a strong start to the next campaign.

The towering 19-year-old academy product (pictured) showed he could be a Wimbledon centre-back for years to come with a string of impressive displays earlier this season, before he suffered a knee injury against Newport that required an operation.

Speaking during an interview for Dons Player, Neal Ardley says he will be cautious with Nightingale’s recuperation.

“Will is back in training now, but we have only got one Under-21s game to go,” said Neal. “Will is desperate to play in it, but we have told him that will not be happening. We need to get Will strong now until the end of the season. We do not want a bad tackle on him that will mean a summer out.

“We are going to hold him back and make sure that he comes back like a roaring lion and gives us that selection option. Though he has been back in training, as usual with Will we have to keep telling him to ‘go easy’. Will treats every training session like it is a cup final.”

The full interview with Neal Ardley, which includes team news ahead of the League 2 match at Bury, is now on Dons Player.

.Team NewsTo view our previous update for the official website ahead of Bury, click on